Alyson Schafer is an internationally acclaimed mental health practitioner, parenting expert, bestselling author, and media personality. Her energizing blend of optimism, unwavering respect for all humans (big and small), playful wit, and no-nonsense approach, have made her one of the pre-eminent, go-to sources of strength and actionable solutions for families in need (and the communities that serve them).
Armed with years of research and clinical experience, plus a whopping dose of relatable storytelling, humour and humility, Schafer breaks down complex ideas and presents them in ways that are easy for all audiences to understand and implement. She delivers truly actionable tactics and empowers her audiences with the skills and confidence needed to address modern life challenges for families, all with the goal of helping to raise resilient, caring, and capable kids.
A three-time TEDx presenter, Schafer speaks on stages around the world including Switzerland, Uruguay, Bulgaria, Germany, Ukraine, and Puerto Rico, presenting to parents, clinicians, teachers, and workplace employees who seek expertise in parenting, family dynamics, discipline, and mental health and well-being. She specializes in neutralizing power dynamics, empowering independence, and helping democratize family dynamics through proven Adlerian psychodynamic and family systems frameworks.
Schafer is the creator and host of The Parenting Show and the podcast, Parenting the Adlerian Way. She is also the resident parenting expert for national Canadian media outlets The Morning Show and Global News Morning. Schafer is also the bestselling author of Honey, I Wrecked the Kids, Breaking the Good Mom Myth, and Ain’t Misbehavin’, and has been featured in several publications including Cosmopolitan, Real Simple, Parent Magazine, Reader’s Digest, The Washington Post, and more.
Schafer has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Waterloo and a Master of Arts in Counselling from the Adler School of Chicago. She is often called on by corporations to consult, speak, or act as a brand spokesperson, and has worked with such notable companies as the Bank of Montreal, L’Oréal, Huggies, Kijiji, Kellogg’s, Ronald McDonald House, Earth Rangers, Facebook, Labatt’s, and more.